Evans warned his deputies about something he learned from his father and grandfather: that when a chicken snake approaches, one way to deal with it is to chop its head off.

Was this a veiled threat to any deputies who may have been thinking about coming forward to complain about him, as some deputies have suggested to me? Or is it a folksy analogy intended to illustrate the folly of listening to gripers and rumormongers instead of focusing on your job?

Evans referred my call about this audio to his new lawyer, Royce West, a Democratic state senator from Dallas.

West said he listened to the tape several times and didn’t find anything improper with it.

“There’s nothing in there that even remotely attempts to intimidate someone,” he said.

The message, West said, was merely this: “People on the outside of the office are attempting to start a rumor mill to the point where everyone starts to believe the rumors.”

But a deputy constable who was at the meeting told me he inferred a more sinister message. He said the talk was given after deputies were starting to come forward with allegations about Evans.

“In this meeting Evans clearly threatens those who spoke up and those who are trying to get others to speak up. He refers to them as ‘Chicken Snakes’ and explains how you kill a chicken snake. He also warns others who have not been approached to stay out of it and not get involved.”

West said he and his client look forward to reviewing the results of any investigations being conducted by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and the DA’s Office.

Top Picks

ArchivesAbout this blog

About this Blog

Criminal justice reporters, editors and invited guests provide news and analysis impacting Dallas-area police, courts, fire and other public safety issues and entities. Readers are encouraged to join the conversation.